KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Fans of electric vehicles are celebrating two developments on the Big Island.

A new fast-charging station is slated to open in South Kohala in July, and the Kona Nissan dealership has begun selling the all-electric Nissan Leaf, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1utN2Zu ).

Most of the island’s charging stations are located around Kailua-Kona. But those traditional charging stations only allow a car to travel about 15 miles after a one-hour charge. That makes it difficult for drivers of electric cars to get around the island.

The quick-charging station will allow a car to go 60 miles after being plugged in for an hour. It was installed at the Shops at Mauna Lani by the smart grid technology company Charge Bliss.

The Big Island’s distances, heat and steep terrain present challenges to electric cars. Mileage rates are based on vehicles traveling on flat surfaces with no air conditioning, limited occupants and the windows rolled up.
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